AP Stylebook revises 'Islamist' use

4/5/13 12:15 PM EDT

The Associated Press made waves earlier this week when it announced that it was dropping the term "illegal immigrant" from its Stylebook. But another significant change made yesterday seems to have flown under the radar.

On Thursday, after much prodding from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the AP moved to disassociate the term "Islamist" from its negative connotations with "Islamic fighters, militants, extremists or radicals, who may or may not be Islamists."

CAIR had complained late last year that the AP's old definition of "Islamist" -- a "supporter of government in accord with the laws of Islam [and] who view the Quran as a political model" -- had become a pejorative shorthand for extremist Muslims or "Muslims we don't like."

The Stylebook's entry for Islamist now reads as follows (bold mine): "An advocate or supporter of a political movement that favors reordering government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam. Do not use as a synonym for Islamic fighters, militants, extremists or radicals, who may or may not be Islamists. Where possible, be specific and use the name of militant affiliations: al-Qaida-linked, Hezbollah, Taliban, etc. Those who view the Quran as a political model encompass a wide range of Muslims, from mainstream politicians to militants known as jihadi."

CAIR commended the AP's decision in a statement released on Friday: "We believe this revision is a step in the right direction and will result in fewer negative generalizations in coverage of issues related to Islam and Muslims," Ibrahim Hooper, the National Communications Director for the civil liberties group said. "The key issue with the term 'Islamist' is not its continued use; the issue is its use almost exclusively as an ill-defined pejorative."